"He lives! yes, he breathes! I was in time!" she cried, tragically, "and my darling is saved!"
The captain looked sternly at Tommy.
"Who gave you authority to hang people's dogs?" he demanded.
"Purser's orders, sir," answered Tommy.
The purser chanced to come on deck, and was just about offering his arm to a lady who was taking a promenade, when the captain called him.
"Why did you order this lady's dog to be killed, Mr. Kinsey?" he asked.
"I, sir? I did nothing of the sort," replied the purser.
"This boy says you did."
"Yes, indeed, sir. Don't go back on me!" pleaded Tommy. "You said, 'Hang the dog!'"
"But I didn't mean it that way, you fool! It was an exclamation of impatience. I had heard of this dog trouble, and didn't want to be mixed up in it."